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53	53	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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55	55	1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
56	56
57	57	SENATE BILL 499 By: Bergstrom
58	58
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63	63	AS INTRODUCED
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65	65	An Act relating to the Oklahoma Religious Freedom
66	66	Act; amending 51 O.S. 2021, Section 253, as last
67	67	amended by Section 113, Chapter 452 , O.S.L. 2024 (51
68	68	O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 253), which relates to
69	69	government burden on religious freedom; providing
70	70	certain closures be deemed substantial burden;
71	71	prohibiting certain restriction of access; and
72	72	providing an effective date .
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77	77	BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
78	78	SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 51 O.S. 2021, Section 253, as last
79	79	amended by Section 113, Chapter 452, O.S.L. 2024 (51 O.S. Supp.
80	80	2024, Section 253), is amended to read as follows:
81	81	Section 253. A. Except as provided in subsection B of this
82	82	section, no governmental entity shall substantially burden a
83	83	person’s free exercise of religion even if the burden results from a
84	84	rule of general applicability.
85	85	B. No governmental entity shall substantia lly burden a person’s
86	86	free exercise of religion unless it demonstrates that ap plication of
87	87	the burden to the person is:
88	88	1. Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and
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140	140	2. The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling
141	141	governmental interest.
142	142	C. Any order or rule issued by any governmental entity pursuant
143	143	to an emergency that requires The closure of any place of worship
144	144	entitled to the religious exemption found in Section 501(c)(3) of
145	145	Title 26 of the United States Code shall be c onsidered a substantial
146	146	burden even if the order or rule is one of general app licability.
147	147	D. No governmental entity as defined pursuant to Section 252 of
148	148	this title shall declare or deem a religious institution and any
149	149	activity directly related to the ins titution’s discharge of its
150	150	mission and purpose to be nonessential. No or the designation of a
151	151	religious institution shall be subject to a closure or restriction
152	152	for the purposes of health or security that is greater than that
153	153	imposed upon any private ent ity facing the same or similar health or
154	154	security conditions as nonessential by a governmental entity as
155	155	defined pursuant to Section 252 of this title shall be deemed a
156	156	substantial burden on the free exercise of religion that is not the
157	157	least restrictive means of furthering a compelling governmental
158	158	interest. A government entity shall not restrict access to a
159	159	religious facility or gathering if such facility or gathering is not
160	160	engaged in illegal activities .
161	161	E. D. It shall be deemed a substantial burden to exclude any
162	162	person or entity from participation in or receipt of governmental
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214	214	funds, benefits, programs, or exemptions based solely on the
215	215	religious character or affiliation of the person or entity.
216	216	SECTION 2. This act shall become effect ive November 1, 2025.
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218	218	60-1-1411 TEK 1/11/2025 11:06:49 AM

Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB499 Compare Versions